Friday the 13th

Today was my birthday

(Okay technically it's 3AM and yesterday was my birthday, but who cares?)

It was a pretty good one. I was up in Driggs for the first half of the day. We made dry-ice bombs and blew things up. I drove down to Springville in a little manual-transmission pickup truck.

I've never really driven manual before!

It was like learning how to drive all over again! By the end of the trip though I was okay at it. I still fail (you can ask Jeremy) but I don't fail as much. It's pretty fun.

Then I ate pumpkin pie and a bunch of Kimberly's friends came by and played games. Alecia and Scott and Jeremy also came. We put 400 post-it notes on somebody's door. Then I came home and talked with Kimberly for a while and wasted too much time on the computer.

How was your Friday the 13th?

Onward

I know I just posted a video. But here's another one..

This one is everything I loved about running. It's something that can't be explained, it has to be experienced.

This video also reminds me very much of Evan. He's the most hard-core runner I know. He would understandthis. He's running a half-marathon soon. He's in Deutschland. I miss him very much.

Sweet Summer

A moment of silence for the end of warm weather............

....

....

Okay, now you can click play. The video is just the lyrics, but the song is fitting.

"It's a nice day for a..

..white wedding!"

I went to a family wedding on Saturday night and had a blast!

I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to attending. For some reason I always dread going to family functions, even though I have a blast every time. I just need to remind myself that I will have fun.

Anyways, the wedding was very pretty. I really liked the bridesmaid dresses. Zac looked freakin' studly in his uniform. The South 40 is a great venue. Andrea was beautiful. Whoever did all of the girls' hair should be complimented too.

At first I was overwhelmed because I felt like I didn't know anybody there. I mean, I should've known a lot of people there because they were relatives but I didn't. Do you ever have random people come up to you and say, "Oh my goodness, look how big you've gotten! I remember when you were in diapers!"? Well, that sort of thing happens to me a lot. So I stood around thinking, "Great! I'm supposed to start up a million little small-talk conversations with people I don't even know!"

Never has Evan's absence seemed more pronounced than Saturday night.

But pretty soon I got into things. I found that I knew plenty of people and I had a lot of fun. Things especially picked up speed when the dancing started.

At my wedding dancing will be a must. Everyone has a good time when they let loose and have fun on the dance floor.

Well, anyways.. fun evening. fun company.

Congratulations to Zac and Andrea!

Alright, so here's the truth

Well actually, where to start?

I've gone and found myself in a pickle. Which, might I add, doesn't actually need to exist! Leave it to the people with long hair to make problems where there shouldn't be any....

The title I wanted to give this post is "BLOODY HELL!" But I decided those probably aren't nice words to say.

So the truth is, I prefer to keep my trap shut. It seems every time I go telling people how I really feel, what I actually think, it ends up turning into a big fiasco. One of my favorite proverbs is "The best way to keep a secret is to first keep it yourself" because everyone has a confidant.

But I guess if you keep me up late enough I start babbling like a drunken idiot. I'll tell you anything you want.

(Though normally that's something I like about the night time. Things seem clearer. People are more open. Talking comes easier.)

But most of the time I prefer to keep my trap shut.

"You lie by omission"

I'm up too late.

Lame, this all sounds like some sort of Jr. High drama.. I just mind my own business. I'm not going to get caught up in silliness. It's never ending, it seems some people can't live without it. But I don't care, just frustrated, that's all.

Guess What!

I found the Brown Notebook!

I'm so excited!

But guess what else. There are still a whole bunch of blank pages that need filling! Anybody itching to add something?

......

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......

an apology

Sometimes when I'm with friends I get really carried away.

We'll be joking around and laughing which is fine, but it escalates more and more until suddenly I realize I'm being one of those loud obnoxious people that I don't like. Then I suddenly catch myself and shut up.

I don't mean to make such a spectacle. I really hate it about myself.

So, sorry if you've ever been around when I've done that.

Also, I realized the other day that I have only four or five posts for the entire summer. How sad is that? Often times I'll have a thought that would make for a really good post but when I get to a computer it's gone. Other times I have events and experiences that really ought to be posted, but I never get around to it. So the only posts you get are little impulse-posts like this one. Sorry.

Also, Also, I saw "Ponyo". It was just as weird as the rest of Miyazaki's films except that the story had a lot of --how should I say this?-- unresolved confusion...? At the end of the show I was still confused about what the central conflict was and how it resulted from an unexplained backstory. And what the devil was the resolution? Don't get me wrong, the show was entertaining and fun, but I recommend that you wait until it hits the dollar theaters. Sorry to anyone who absolutely loved it.

And I don't care if my grammar and punctuation are teh lame....

: (

I miss my brother.

Why isn't he here telling me to get off the computer?

What the devil am I going to do without you brotha'?

A Black Cat...

...crossed my path as I was heading home from an epic fail date.

I'm packed (and excited) for NOAC.

I'm SO excited to fly in an airplane.  And I really don't care if it's "not all it's cracked up to be."  I'm sick of people telling me that the whole airport/flying experience is a pain.  I think the airport looks like so much fun.  Everyone is either going somewhere really exciting or returning from somewhere really exciting.

Speaking of which, Evan leaves on the 16th for Germany!  He just found out who his host family will be.  I'm sure he's going to have a blast, but I don't know what I'll do without him.  He's always been there.  For my entire life he has been there.  We've always shared a room, and other than little week-long trips here and there neither of us have ever been gone.  But now Evan will be gone.

Other news:

• Spent the first night in the treehouse with the boys
• Learned the constellations Hercules, Pegasus, Capricorn, Auquarius, Bootes, and others
• Visited Mr. Bird (isn't that guy just freaking awesome?).  He has a broken foot and hasn't been able to get out as much as he would like to
• "Acquired" another road sign.
• Cleaned more of my room (almost there)
• Baked a quiche for a 50's style picnic.  played croquet.  tasted Ironport at SOS Drug Store
• Oh!  Slaughtered 14 chickens!  I was going to post some pictures but then I got lazy..
• Posted on a sad, neglected blog (which has a lot of followers, oddly enough..)

Midnight Update

• Attempted to clean my room today (it's a really cool room when it's clean).
  
• My best friend Eric left to Europe for two weeks.
  
• Talked to one of my friends recently returned from a trip.
  
• Found out another one of my friends is back East visiting church history sites.
  
• Built more of the tree house (the kids are allowed to play around in it now while we put the rail on it).
  
• Bought some N64 games for Elihu's birthday (shh! It's a surprise).
  
• Thought "glitter", but unfortunately couldn't act on the thought (sorry Alecia).
  
• Need to write some letters (haven't gone to work in a week and a half) *see previous post

And that was my exciting day.  How was yours?

"let the wild rumpus start!"

I know the movie isn't fresh news.

But I found a really cool blog-collection of Where the Wild Things Are artwork:  Terrible Yellow Eyes

And if you haven't seen the trailer yet:

"Where the Wild Things Are"

It looks like they've done a good job.  If not then there is a special circle of Hell reserved for everyone who was involved in the production of the film.  It's one thing to screw up Harry Potter or Twilight when you make a movie, but Where the Wild Things Are is sacred.

Snail Mail

Okay, I suppose I should explain my lack of new posts.

Let me start off by saying that my job is extremely boring.  No honestly, my job is extremely boring.  It also doesn't require a lot of concentration.  I sit at a desk and ask stupid people lots of stupid questions over the telephone.

That said..  I pass the time at work by writing letters.  At first I just used it as an opportunity to write to the First Ward missionaries, Vegas and Tango, but I eventually started writing more and more letters.  To people I haven't seen in a long time or to people I see pretty regularly, it doesn't matter.

I find it really enjoyable.  It's therapeutic in the same way that posting on a blog or writing in a journal is therapeutic.  It's creative.  I have fun writing about day-to-day happenings, it makes them seem less mundane.  I have fun drawing little pictures and diagrams of the things I write about.  It's fun even though I don't write anything of consequence.  It's also fun to stay in touch with friends and family members that you usually wouldn't see much.

And who doesn't love snail mail?!  Isn't it so much fun to go out to the mailbox and find something addressed to you?  Something other than a bill or an advertisement.  Something that someone actually spent time writing.  Sealed the envelope.  Licked the stamp.  Sent off.  Just for you.

So that's why I haven't posted much lately, because everything I would write about has already been told in a letter.

Evan says,

"Do you think the Cardinals ever get together to go bowling?"

Let's start at the very beginning..

..it's a very good place to start.

H'okay!  So I really was going to post a while ago, but I couldn't get the picture to upload.  And of course things got extremely hectic after that.

Do you remember when I was complaining about my really ignorant U.S. Government teacher?  Well, I dropped the class so I wouldn't have to put up with her.  I figured I would just make it up online.  Well, being the responsible person I am I kept putting it off until "Gah!  Graduation is next week?!"  So I spent a solid week sitting in front of a computer regurgitating ridiculous propaganda so that I could graduate.  I made it, but just barely.  In fact I had to take a final test the day after graduation.  Fun stuff.

But, I'm graduated.  I'm officially done with Springville High School forever!  I was sooo ready for it when it finally came.  I got sick of putting up with stupid teachers and their stupid games.  I'm a little sad though, that I won't be seeing most of these people again.  It's going to take all of my effort just to stay in touch with the few that I really care about.

Senior All-Night Party was fun.  Star Trek was awesome!  Although I came out of the theater wishing very much that I had been a Trekkie.  I've been watching some of the other Star Trek movies so that I don't feel ashamed.

All of my friends are gone or are going on really cool trips and it makes me really jealous!  Eric is in California (Highway 1! Ah!).  Jessica just got back from Disney-freaking-Land.  Nathan is in Paris.  Allyssa leaves Saturday for Germany.  Kimberly is about to come home from Spain.  Gah!  You all better take lots of pictures or at least remember lots of details so that you can come home and tell me all about it!

I was looking at this picture (you'll probably have to click on it because I couldn't manage to make it smaller):

and I said to myself, "By Hell, I am going to play in Hyde Park someday!"

But that is not this day.  Isn't it a cool picture?

Oh! check out this picture! (again, click)

Those are Maunsell Sea Forts!  Don't they look like something straight out of fantasy?  They built them during World War II to defend the Thames and Mersey Estuaries.  I can't get over how cool they are!  There are more pictures of them here.  This particular picture came from this album on The Big Picture which is a really awesome site.

:TELEGRAM:

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Oh My Bubbles!

So the other day I had a little container of bubbles which I was blowing throughout the day.  I blew them at the elementary school track meet, in the halls, in some of my classes, and later that day at a high school track meet.  I noticed something really cool.

No matter who it was or what they were doing, anyone who saw the bubbles would immediately  exclaim, "Ooh! Bubbles!" and often times set to chasing them around and popping them.  It was so cool to watch someone's day instantly go from normal to whimsical.  It reminded me of the stuff on Wooster Collective that challenges our views and attitudes about the world around us.

It's just cool to make peoples' days more out-of-the-ordinary, more surreal, more spontaneous, more [fill in appropriate adjective here].

Green Eggs and AP Tests. And Toilets!

Chya!  I freaking rocked it up on the second essay question on the AP Literature test today!  Actually I felt good about the entire test.  Probably not a 5, but hopefully passing.  It feels good to have that over and done with.

Anyway, I'm proud to present to you the very first pictures on Me 'n' the Moon!  I had hoped I would have something more fitting for such a momentous occasion, but I don't.  I just wanted to show you a few things I've been up to lately.

This first one is a painting I did for my AP Literature class.  Every APES class before us has left a legacy behind.  This is ours.  The photo is of the unfinished work.  I later added a big, stamped "TRAGEDY" label because a few of us, particularly me and Eric, kept heckling Simmons about her definition of a tragedy.  We eventually became exasperated and shouted, "Heck! Everything is a tragedy then!  Even Green Eggs and Ham is a bloody tragedy!"

This is how I replied to Keilani Gleave.  She asked me to Last Chance Dance with a really cool doodled note which you will probably never get to see because I'm too lazy to figure out how the scanner works.  Anyways!  It was Evan's idea and of course we had to do it because it was freaking brilliant!  I mean, honestly, who on earth has an extra toilet lying around?  The best part about it was that Keilani's family couldn't really move it anywhere because they had nowhere to put it, so it sat on their porch for all the world to see for two days before I could come over and retrieve it. Ha!

I'm pretty excited for Last Chance though.  Keilani is a really cool girl.  Sometimes I worry about dates and whatnot though because I'm not a really talkative person.  I'm always worried that I'll be working really hard to keep a conversation going, y'know?  Ah well.

I'm reading Garth Nix's Lirael.  I really like easy reads.  They're a nice change from assigned works or thick, rich "works of literary merit".  Just a nice easy fantasy to pull me along and get lost in.  That's all I want right now.

Midnight Update

oh gaaawl!

My job is SO. BLOODY. BORING!

I literally keep a manual minute-by-minute countdown on a piece of paper until I get to leave.

Oh!  Check out Kimberly's Blog.  I'm sooo jealous!  Spain looks bloody amazing!  Is all of Europe that cool?

It's nice and all, having friends and family that get to travel and take cool pictures and tell you cool stories, but by darn! One of these days it's going to be my turn and I ain't coming home!

I Finished 'Cry, The Beloved Country' by Paton today.  Astounding book!  A powerful story and very different from typical African literature.  I highly recommend it to anyone as an enjoyable read.

i dunno....

Do you think you'll know when you're going to die?  Do you think you'll know at least on an unconscious level?  I remember when Neal passed away his mother said it was almost as if he knew.  He started coming home at lunchtime, just to spend time with his family.  He was exceptionally eager to help his mother out, just 'cause.  

I wonder why..

I wonder why..

he died...

It really seems so bloody unfair.  Why should a young guy like that have to go and die?  He's got so many things going for him.  He was about to leave on a mission.  He was about to go off to college.  He was about to find a wife.  He was about to start a family.  He was finally reaching the age that allowed him to have deeper relationship with his parents, his sisters, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles, his cousins.  He was only barely entered into manhood.

So why the hell should a young guy like that have to go and die?

What about that wife he never met?

What about those kids he'll never have?

Yeah, yeah.  Go ahead and give me warm-fuzzies.  Tell me, "He was called to serve a mission in Heaven" or, "He'll have those opportunities someday".

Go ahead and tell me, "We just don't understand the mysteries of God, Logan".

But you know what?

Sometimes I just don't bloody understand the mysteries of God!

i dunno...

it just seems sorta lame sometimes.

Guess what my brother taught me!

Do you know why seeds don't sprout until after the winter?  It's because the plant produces a certain hormone in seeds which inhibits plant processes (i.e. growth).  Now, this particular hormone is rendered inert only after a long cold period (i.e. winter).  If this didn't happen then seedlings would sprout in the fall and be killed by winter frosts.  And do you know how desert plants manage the whole process?  The same hormone is present in the seeds, but rather than being rendered inert by cold it gets washed out with water.  So seeds only sprout after a heavy rain, otherwise they'd shrivel and die.

God is genius.

P.S.  Don't complain that this post isn't good enough, at least I'm posting again!

:TELEGRAM:

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A Toast to Hyrum W. Barlow, the 'richest' man in town!

Today I talked to a 70 year-old woman in Sarasota, Florida about her favorite hospitals.  Then I called up a guy in Anchorage, Alaska who feels very strongly that gold-mining operations in Bristol Bay will adversely affect salmon population.  Aren't you jealous?

Well you should be, I finally have myself a job!  I'm so excited (even though it's a little boring).  I finally have money coming in, rather than only going out; It's a much better feeling.

But what I really meant to post was this:

Last Saturday my grandfather, Hyrum Barlow, had an Open House at his home, HyPointe.  It was a house-warming party to thank all the friends and family who donated so much time and effort to build the beautiful home.  If you would have told me a few years ago that Lehi, Utah could look so pretty, I never would have believed you.  But now I know there are few places on Earth that are as beautiful as HyPointe.

There were so many people there!  The drive and yard were filled row upon row with the cars of guests (my Grandfather commissioned a few of my cousins as valet parking) and the rooms inside were crammed shoulder to shoulder with talking, astounded relatives.  I was reminded of It's a Wonderful Life when Harry Bailey raises his glass "to [his] big brother, the 'richest' man in town".  George Bailey's and Hyrum Barlow's 'wealth' come not from money, but from close ties with loving friends and family.

The party was --or rather the home is-- a big success.

I am extremely grateful to have played a part in the construction of such a lovely home.

Y'all know who you are..

I've said it before..

But I'm grateful for true friends.

The kind that will forgive you after you offend them.  The kind that you will always be friends with.

Best friends.

For better or for worse, you're stuck with 'em.  

:)

What the [expletive], man?

Okay, this is a bit of understatement

but sometimes I really don't understand God.

He shows you something that seems to say, "Look, this is good.  This is what you want.  You aren't searching in vain."

But then..

He says, "Ha! gotcha!  You thought you had something good.  You thought that everything was just the way you dreamed.  But you were wrong.  Try again."

What am I supposed to learn from that?

I know you're probably wondering what I'm talking about, but I'm afraid to be too explicit here.  Endure my ambiguity please.  It's just frustrating and discouraging when you do everything correctly but your work is all for naught.  It's alright when there is a lesson to be learned, but what about the times when you can't find the lesson?  What are you supposed to learn then?

And what if it isn't a failed venture?  What if you could fix things with a little extra work?

And if that were the case then how would you know it?

. . . .

. . . .

I'm annoyed and frustrated at my indecision.

(P.S. God doesn't speak in American vernacular)

...(wheels)?

Hey check it out, I'm famous!

See that over there?  13 followers (*edit: 15!), and one of them I've never met in my life (apparently he is from Portugal)!  I feel cool....

Also, I talked to Brother Sherrell Johnson today about my car:

SJ: "It's a '68 Buick?"

Me: "yeah"

SJ: "What kind of engine does it have?"

Me: "um... [attempting to sound knowledgeable] ..a V6?"

SJ: "Two-jet carburetor, right?  I have a couple of them lying around, in fact I know right where they are.  Just come by and pick 'em up sometime."

Me: [completely ecstatic!] "Wait wha-- Really?!  Are you sure?  Oh, thank you so much!!"

Wahoooo!  I'll finally be able to get my beautiful lawn ornament rolling!  And when she is up and running I will finally be able to christen her.  I've had a name picked out since day one, but I'm keeping it a secret until she can move.

hehe, I wrote Brother Johnson a letter two days ago asking for assistance.  He'll probably get it tomorrow...

symphonic cacophony.. er something like that....

I wish there were a song for how I feel right now.

It would have a lot of humming. and bagpipes. and spoons. and banjo. and cello. and trumpet.

Needless to say it is a very interesting song.  It's part happiness, part confusion, part worry, part contentment, part excitement, part dread, and part reckless abandon.

                [insert contented smile here]

And I really love country dancing!  Sometimes I forget just how much I love it.  I'm also really bad at it.  My repertoire includes...maybe five or six moves?  They teach me things and I learn them. and then I promptly forget them and revert to those same moves.  I need to go more often because a) it's a blast b) I'm an awful dancer and c) it's a great cheap date.

And guess what!  I was accepted to Utah State University!  Woot!  That means I'm an Aggie now... hehe.  In reality though, I'm not as excited as I should be.  Perhaps if I had a clue about where I were headed and how I'm going to get there then I would be a little happier.  As it is, I'm worrying about a mission; How will I pay for it?  How will I get myself in the correct frame of mind for it?  How will I pay for it? and, How will I pay for it?

They are calling it a Depression now.  As if we ever expected it to be anything less.  I find it a little funny that in European history classes you read about dozens countries that tried in vain to save their financial and economic systems by printing off more money.  Again and again you watch fiat money systems collapse.  Even recently, in places like Bolivia where my dad served his mission there was price inflation of 15,000 %!  Paper money systems always fail. Always.  Especially if you decide to print billions upon billions of paper notes!

I also find it a little funny that almost every economist agrees that pumping money into the system is the wrong solution.  They advocate letting the economy run its course and correct itself.  So why is our government pushing so hard for bail-outs?...

I also find it a little funny that people think free-market capitalism is what got us into this mess.  Our economy is very far from free-market, almost every aspect of it is regulated, protected, or controlled in some way.  I like Rex Vallis's "spinning top" analogy.

So yeah..

• my personal soundtrack.
  
• my love for country swing.
  
• my college acceptance.
  
• my mission anxiety.
  
• my views on the Depression of 2009-ish.
  

(But just watch, they won't actually say the word "Depression" for a long time.  They'll come up with some sort of euphemism for it.)

Is it Springtime yet?

I want winter to end.

I want to fix my car.

I love pumpkin cookies.

I love early-morning and late-nite escapades with my brother.

I think my aunt Amber needs some sense kicked into her.

I really love my friends.

I want winter to end.

I like having true friends, the kind you can invite over for peanut-butter and apricot jam sandwiches and not care whether the house is a mess.

I like these new CD's Alecia gave me (thanks, Alecia-leia!).

I want winter to end.

I need to win the lottery.. or something.

I don't feel prepared for this Depression.

I need to get caught up on my to-do list.

I want to be a tenth of the tenth.

I want winter to end.

I need to finish Mansfield*bloody*Park.

I am so excited for graduation.

I am dreading graduation.

And I really, really want winter to end.

disquiet-

All week I have had an awful, anxious feeling.

As though I were forgetting something really important.

A stressed feeling, like the kind you get when you know something horrible is coming, something you dread.

A gut-clenching feeling.

Worried.

Pressed.

Restless.

Looking over my shoulder to see if I would find what I couldn't remember.

It's been driving me crazy.  I can't think straight.  My thoughts jump from box to box.  I'll be doing the dishes and suddenly realize I don't know whether I am loading or unloading the dishwasher.  When I try to speak I simply lose track of where I was going.

What on earth is making me so nervous?

title:______.

I sat down here to write a post.

But I can't decide what to write.

Do I write about the jazz festival that Singers went to today?  Do I write about Israel and Palestine?  Do I write about New Hampshire's recent denouncement of the federal government over its abuse of power?  Do I write about my growing abhorrence for snow?  Do I risk writing about just how much I love attending church?  Do I write about a dozen more subjects that I could possibly write about?....

By the way, I've been forwarding e-mails about national and world events to a few of the people who read this blog.  The e-mails are pertinent to our current situation and they are really interesting (or at least I find them interesting).  If you would like to be added to my mailing list just leave me a comment with your e-mail address, but don't worry, I won't let your address be posted publicly, only I will see it.  Um.. I won't flood your inbox, I will send maybe two or three e-mails every week or so.

My grammar be, awfuls.

Movie Party!

I'm going to let this video speak for itself.  It is about an hour long.  Even though it looks like it should be viewed on an old-school slide projector it is actually pretty good at providing facts and hard evidence to support its claims.

So take some time to watch it.

Really.

...and eat more apricot kernels.  

*edit: the movie is titled A World Without Cancer.

my eyes are going fuzzy...

Re-reading Ender's Game (until three in the morning!).  One of my very favorite books ever.  If you haven't read it then you aren't a red-blooded American.

College applications were annoying and stressful.  What if I don't have a clue what I want to do with my life?  Can I change my mind after I get back from my mission?

I have a bad case of Senioritis.  I really don't care about any of my classes anymore.  So many people are driving me crazy.  The sheltered, bureaucratic, self-contained world of high-school is getting really old.

But then there are my friends...  Looking at my friends never ceases to amaze me.  Some of the people I once couldn't stand are now my best friends.  But then some of the people who were once such a part of my life are now distant and foreign.  There have been so many interesting twists and turns which produce the most unexpected results.

It is sad to know that most of them will soon be little more than a memory.  I won't see them again and I probably won't care.  We have such a large --no, monstrous-- group of tight-knit friends.  We've gone on thousands of adventures and had thousands of laughs.  We have characters and personalities more varied than any author of fiction could ever invent!

Some days I know I'm going to miss every single one of them.  Other days I know it wouldn't faze me if they were gone tomorrow.

Some days

i wonder...

where

the Devil i'm going..

or

how

I'm gonna get there...

Brain..cells...leaving..........gone.

For a split second I thought it might be fun to irritate my U.S. Gov't teacher by pointing out flaws in what she was teaching.  Just for a second.

But then reality came flooding back in..

This class is 

so. 

bloody. 

useless.

brainless.

a waste.

Not only is the curriculum far, far, far below a high-school level, but the teacher is far, far, far below healthy brain capacity.  She is a zoobie through and through, which means she forgot a long time ago how to think for herself.  She has handed her mind over to anyone who wants to indoctrinate it.  And as such, it is impossible to hold an intelligent argument with her.  You can make as many valid points as you like but she merely brushes them aside and says, "Hmm, maybe.  But the book says..."

Unfortunately, she is the standard in our education system.  She teaches us the exact same things which were taught to her years earlier.  She regurgitates key phrases like "checks and balances" "We the People" "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness".  

And do we learn anything from that?  No, of course not.  It merely makes us one more product of the education system.  Then we can grow up and regurgitate the same things to the next generation.

So basically I hate that the system perpetuates itself.  People become apathetically programmable and will believe anything they are taught.  They never question whether the newspapers are actually reporting fact or whether they're unbiased, they never question whether they should really vaccinate their child, they never question whether police actually have the interest of the people in mind.  They merely accept what is being fed to them.  I can't stand people who won't think for themselves, people who won't seek out alternatives to the mind-numbing regurgitation of media and mass education!

Gah!  Sorry for the rant....

I'm dropping that class and teaching myself.

edit:  Krystal pointed out to me that I make it sound as if I'm criminalizing everyone who vaccinates their child or trusts in the police system.  I'm not.  I merely wish that people would learn about topics well enough that they can arrive at their own well-educated conclusion.

HOPE! CHANGE! AMERICA!

Bloody Heavens!

Do you have any idea how sick I am of hearing about Obama's inaugural address?!

I watched it live.  I watched a recording.  I analyzed his rhetorical strategies.  I dissected the ways in which he appeals to rich, poor, white, black, atheist, and baptist.  I searched for his subtle references to past presidential speeches.  etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

It is really getting old.

I didn't examine his speech for fun.  No.  I was forced to 'ooh' and 'aah' over the whole affair because it was "an historical event", a "milestone in our history".  Because he is "such a skilled orator".   Well of course he is a skilled orator!  He is a skilled everything!  He pays people big money to make him that way.

It is almost ridiculous how effectively he has been marketed.  From the very beginning news channels and papers were pushing his image.  Even at his inaugural address he was strategically branded.  

Take the musical number for example, you've got an African-American, a French-born Chinese-American, a cripple from Tel Aviv, and a Venezuelan--We should all forget our differences.

Then there was the benediction (which was almost insulting) delivered by a civil-rights contemporary of MLK, Jr.--He recognizes his roots.

Obama's wife and daughters were decked out in bright, spring colors which were in striking contrast with his own somber attire--especially important because our nation is facing hard times.  While Obama's staff wore bright blue neckties he sported a dark crimson.  Heck, Obama doesn't even wear a necktie half of the time in order to promote a "working man" image, he shows that he isn't an "executive snob".

I could continue rambling, but I'm not going to.

I'm just sick of everyone fawning all over him just because he is a great orator.  Let me remind you that Hitler and Satan were both great orators.  Rhetorical skills don't mean you have peoples' best interest in mind.

Oh!  And I get to watch the Inaugural Address again tomorrow! yay!

Heart of Darkness

I finished reading Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness a while back.

I really enjoyed it, even though it was written in a style that I usually dislike.  I wouldn't go so far as to say it was a "page-turner", but the story was definitely compelling from beginning to end.

You want to know what's funny about it though?

Nothing happens.

Well, maybe not nothing, but the story itself is very simple:  

A man joins a company that gathers ivory out of Africa.  The man is charged with the job of retrieving Kurtz, an almost legendary ivory trader in the heart of Africa (hence Heart of Darkness).  So after many days piloting a steamboat up the river the man finally finds Kurtz, loads him on the boat and heads back down river.  Kurtz dies en route to Europe.   The End.

Soooo.. I'm pretty sure that I completely missed the message hidden in the story.  You should all read it and tell me what you think... because I'm a bit confused.

Ni !

am i Living, or merely Surviving?

"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you ought to set up a life you don't need to escape from."

I swiped this from the blog of Rex Vallis.  It is from Tribes by Seth Godin (which I now really want to read!).  Rex Vallis had other cool snippets from Tribes on his blog, but this particular one caught my eye.

This Christmas break was an amazing and much-needed vacation.  I have been able to stay up late, sleep in, and play with friends and family.  There was hardly a thing I needed to worry about.  Two solid weeks of nothing.  Nothing except things I enjoy.

But alas, all good things must come to an end.

Wait a minute!  Is that really true?

When I saw the quote above it made me wonder, "Why do I hate the life I live?  Why don't I enjoy it more?  Why do I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels?  Why don't I take time to do enjoyable things?"  I'm not talking about the staying up late and sleeping in.  I'm talking about painting for the sake of enjoyment and playing a game of Risk with my brothers just for fun.  I'm talking about going sledding with my friends because it is free, going to bed on time so I don't feel rushed in the mornings, visiting the art museum more often, and keeping my room clean so I can be comfortable in it.

I suppose what I am really talking about is simply getting a hold on my life.  

I hardly feel like I should be saying this, because I'm the King of procrastination.  But I feel that if I can just get on top of things I would find everything I do much more enjoyable.

So this year my goals are geared towards setting up a life that I don't need to escape from.  A life that is productive, creative, and enjoyable.